Belchertown to sell 42 properties with outstanding tax bills

BELCHERTOWN – The town has become the reluctant owner of a large number of properties due to the owner's failure to pay the taxes. Town administrator Gary Brougham says it is time to sell them.

Selectmen unanimously approved Brougham's request last week authorizing the sale of the 42 parcels – some with homes on them. Belchertown became the title holder of the numerous deeds following drawn out legal action.

Prior to the selectmen's vote authorizing the town’s tax title committee to sell the tax-delinquent properties at a public auction, Selectman Ken Elstein said now is not the time to be selling real estate.

“It is not automatic to me that we should be selling these properties in this market,” he said, and suggested a delay.

“I would like to move these properties out of our custody before cold weather comes," Brougham said.

In an interview following the meeting Brougham said the goal is not to make a profit from the auctioning of the land but for the town to recover back taxes and legal costs that have accrued.

In other business selectmen scheduled a special town meeting for Monday, November 26; and set Oct. 17 as the deadline to submit warrant articles.

The November meeting will determine how the town will spend an extra $92,590 in state aid. The finance committee recently voted to recommend allocating $67,000 of it to the school department.

In yet more business, selectmen formally voted 5-0 to postpone the annual fireworks that traditionally kick of the start of the annual town fair. The action was taken for public health reasons due to the concern about Eastern Equine Encephalitis. An older horse in town contracted the disease this month and was put down. An 18-year old girl in Athol was hospitalized this month after contracting EEE from an infected mosquito.

The 155-th annual Belchertown fair starts Friday Sept. 21 when it runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday fair hours are from 12 noon to 10 p.m. The fair concludes Sunday, when hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year's theme is “Poultry In Motion."